Holster of portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A holster for carrying a portable electronic device ( 10 ) includes a container ( 20 ), a support member ( 30 ), a clip ( 40 ) pivotably mounted on the support member and a rotating structure. The rotating structure includes a rotating member ( 211 ) formed on the container and an opening ( 31 ) defined in the support member. The rotating member rotates in the opening. A plurality of recesses ( 216 ) is defined on the rotating member. Aprotrusion ( 33 ) is formed in the opening. The protrusion is positioned in different recesses of the rotating member to retain the container in different angles with respect to the support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holster for carrying a portableelectronic device, and more particularly to a holster adapted topositioning the portable electronic device in different angles.

2. General Background

As the columns of handsets, PDAs and other portable devices becomesmaller and smaller, more and more users carry the device by putting itin a holster and securing the holster onto belt. When the holster issecured on the belt, it only can be stayed in a stationary position.When the user sits down, the top of the portable device can causediscomfort of the user's waist.

So various adjustable holsters are invented. A swivel connected beltholster is disclosed. The swivel includes a holster body. The holsterbody has a fastener part which constitutes the pivot axis for theholster body. A rigid plate surrounds the fastener part and includes anumber of detents in a circular array. A belt loop assembly includes apair of snap fasteners to allow the belt loop to be opened and closed toencircle a section of the wearer's belt. The snap fasteners themselveshave one pad secured to a rigid plate, which includes a circular arrayof mating detents. The rigid plate of the belt loop includes a matingfastener part affixed to the holster body. The fastener holding theholster body to the belt loop is a T nut on the holster body and amating screw at the belt loop. The T nut and screw provide a centralpivot for the holster body with respect to the belt loop and the matingdetent parts, one on the holster body and one on the belt loop providingthe adjustment feature. When the screw is tightened against the T nut,the holster body position is secured. However, adjustment of the holsterwith respect to the belt loop assembly is inconvenient. It needs toloosen a screw, adjust the position and then tighten the screw.

Accordingly, what is needed is a holster for carrying a portableelectronic device which can be conveniently adjusted at differentangles.

SUMMARY

A holster for carrying a portable electronic device includes acontainer, a support member, a clip pivotably mounted on the supportmember and a rotating structure. The rotating structure includes arotating member formed on the container and an opening denned in thesupport member. The rotating member rotates in the opening. A pluralityof recesses is defined on the rotating member. A protrusion is formed inthe opening. The protrusion is positioned in different recesses of therotating member to retain the container in different angles with respectto the support member.

Advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawnfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention with attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a holster for a portableelectronic device carried therein in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, including a container, a supportmember and a clip;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing from another aspect;

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of FIG. 1, but without the clip; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the container being in anotherposition relative to the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a holster for carrying a portable electronicdevice 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention includes a container 20, a support member 30 and a clip 40.

The container 20 is formed of a rear panel 21, a bottom panel 24, twoside panels 22, and a pivoting cover 25 which are connected together toform a bracket for receiving the portable electronic device 10 therein.An annular rotating member 211 used as a first engagement meansprotrudes from the rear panel 21. The periphery of the rotating member211 protrudes outward to form a plurality of ratchets 215. A recess 216is defined between adjacent ratchets 215. A plurality of holes 213 isdefined in the rotating member 211. A rib 214 is formed under therotating member 211.

A pair of pivot ears 36 each of which has a first hole 361 definedtherein extends from the support member 30. The support member 30defines a circular opening 31. An arch protrusion 33 used as a secondengagement means extends inwardly in the opening 31. An arch groove 34is defined adjacent the protrusion 33 for the protrusion 33 deformedtowards the groove 34.

The clip 40 has an operation end 406, an engagement end 407, and aspring 44, preferably a leaf spring. A pair of second holes 401 isdefined in the clip 40. A post 405 is formed from the clip 40. Thespring 44 includes a first piece 443 and a second piece 445. A securinghole 445 is denned in the second piece 441.

A cap 50 forms a plurality of prongs 53 thereof for matching with holes213 of the rotating member 211.

Referring to FIG. 3, in assembly, the opening 31 of the support member30 is attached to the rotating member 211 of the container 20, and theperiphery of the rotating member 211 is engaged with the edge of theopening 31. The protrusion 33 is positioned in one of the recesses 216of the rotating member 211. Then the cap 50 is secured thereon byinserting the prongs 53 in the holes 213. Thus the support member 30 isalso mounted on the container 20 by the cap 50.

The post 405 of the clip 40 extends through the securing hole 445 of thespring 44 to hold the spring 44. The first holes 361 of the supportmember 30 are in alignment with the second holes 401 of the clip 40. Apin 37 extends through the first holes 361 and the second holes 401 topivotably secure the clip 40 on the support member 30. When theoperation end 406 is pressed, the engagement end 407 is away from thecontainer 20 to receive the user's belt.

The position of the container 20 with respect to the support member 30can be adjusted by rotating the container 20. The protrusion 33 of thesupport member 30 slides along the periphery of the rotating member 211.The ratchet 215 forces the protrusion 33 to be elastically deformed. Theprotrusion 33 slides from one recess 216 to the adjacent recess 216.Thus the container 20 can be positioned in different angles with respectto the support member 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the container 20 rotates a large angle withrespect to the support member 30, the rib 214 stops the container 20 torotate further. It prevents the container 20 rotating excessively todrop the portable electronic device 10.

Variations may be made in the foregoing embodiment. For example, theratchets 215 also can be elasticity deformed. The protrusion 33 of thesupport member 30 can be displaced by a recess. And one of the ratchets215 of the rotating member 211 is positioned in the recess to permit thecontainer 20 being set in different angles.

It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferredor exemplary embodiments of the invention.

1. A holster for carrying a portable electronic device comprising: acontainer for holding the portable electronic device; a support member;and a rotating structure comprising a rotating member formed on thecontainer and an opening defined in the support member, the rotatingmember rotating in the opening, a plurality of recesses being defined onthe rotating member, a protrusion being formed in the opening, theprotrusion being positioned in different recesses of the rotating memberto retain the container in different angles with respect to the supportmember.
 2. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein a groove isdefined beside the opening of the support member.
 3. The holster asdescribed in claim 2, wherein the groove is along the periphery of theopening and adjacent to the protrusion.
 4. The holster as described inclaim 1, wherein the opening is a substantially circular opening, andthe rotating member is annular.
 5. The holster as described in claim 1,wherein the periphery of the rotating member forms a plurality ofratchets to defined the recesses therebetween.
 6. The holster asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the container has a rib to present thecontainer rotating excessively.
 7. The holster as described in claim 1,wherein a clip is pivotably mounted on the support member, and the cliphas an operation end and an engagement end.
 8. The holster as describedin claim 1, further comprising a cap for securing the support member onthe container.
 9. The holster as described in claim 1, wherein theprotrusion is arcuate.
 10. A holster for carrying a portable electronicdevice comprising: a container for holding the portable device; and asupport member pivotably cooperating with the container, the supportmember having a protrusion interferentially situated between thecontainer and the support member, and a groove defined adjacent to theprotrusion for providing deformability of the protrusion, so that thecontainer is interferentially pivoted about the support member.
 11. Theholster as described in claim 10, wherein an opening is defined in thesupport member, and a rotating member is formed on the containercorresponding to the opening for pivotably attaching the support memberto the container.
 12. The holster as described in claim 11, wherein theprotrusion is formed in the opening.
 13. The holster as described inclaim 12, wherein the periphery of the rotating member forms a pluralityof ratchets with a plurality of recesses defined therebetween forengaging with the protrusion.
 14. The holster as described in claim 10,wherein the protrusion is arcuate.
 15. The holster as described in claim10, wherein the container has a rib to prevent the container rotatingexcessively.
 16. The holster as described in claim 10, furthercomprising a cap for securing the support member on the container. 17.An assembly for carrying a portable electronic device, comprising: acontainer for accommodating and holding a portable electronic devicetherein, said container comprising a first engagement means formed at aside thereof; and a support member movably attachable to said side ofsaid container and capable of being further attachable to a user of saidportable electronic device, said support member comprising a secondengagement means facing said side of said container and reachable tosaid first engagement means, at least one of said first and secondengagement means being flexible, and engagement of said first and secondengagement means capable of holding said container and said portableelectronic device therein along more than one orientation relative tosaid support member and allowing change of said more than oneorientation to another orientation relative to said support member inresponse to applied driving on one of said container and said portableelectronic device.
 18. The assembly as described in claim 17, whereinflexibility of said at least one of said first and second engagementmeans results from flexible deformation of said at least one of saidfirst and second engagement means along a direction parallel to saidside of said container.
 19. The assembly as described in claim 17,wherein an opening is defined in said support member, and said secondengagement means is formed in said opening, a rotating member is formedon said side of said container and receivable in said opening, and saidfirst engagement means is formed on the periphery of said rotatingmember.